Build your own DIY swimming pool for under £5000 - self build, UK 

Haha... Yes that's a critical step in the process!

Thanks Tim. Working at night and in Winter for the majority of the build was the most challenging part for sure!

So sorry for your loss Jennifer. If Nicole can do it.... So can you! I'm moving house soon and will be building version 2... You can also achieve similar things by sinking an above ground pool into the ground. Check out the FB group called above ground pools UK tips and advice :-)

You're welcome!!!

Thanks for the note, Yes it's not too big for the garden, and relatively inexpensive to keep warm. Circumstances changed, we've now moved, house, and I'm building another shortly!

It was! The temp has been around 28-32 for the last few months! It's one of the best things I've built for sure!

Thank you so much for your kind comment. I have recently moved house and I am about to make another video of the making of the new pool! Still on a budget!

Good work! Yes I opted for that block and paint option as I didn't want a corner radius. Also didn't want the liner to potentially puncture!

@@RichDoesDIY I’ve been fitting the reinforcement this week, I’ve wired the vertical bars into the floor mesh so it will be as strong as possible. Concrete pump arrives on Wednesday to lay the slab. I’ll be back for render advice soon!

@@ryanaustin2336 nice. I didn't have the skill to work out where the L bars should be located to fit into the first course of hollows! Good luck with the pour. Are you in the UK? If so, contact Julian at Antel. He is very knowledgeable and gave me all the info I needed re: rendering. He'll be able to give you much better advice than I!

Thank you!

Excellent.....how's the progress ?

Thanks very much for the kind words! I do miss that pool! Moved house now, and onto pool #2 !

Haha Thanks James! You found it then. I'm just putting together my first video for the new pool !

Thanks Thomas!

It was a fair bit of work. But it was easier than I had initially imagined!

Why thank you!

haha thank you... I'm far from an expert! I've since moved house and I am building another one in my new place! Videos are on my RU-vid page somewhere!

Thanks Ben, roughly £4500

Thank you 😊... Sure I've been meaning to do that for a while. I've got the spreadsheet there. Just needs some tidying up!

@@RichDoesDIYDid you get anywhere with that spreadsheet? 😊 Also quite interested!

Bumping this. That’ll be my summer project!

Haha....I'll try harder next time!

A Qatar

Hi, sorry for the delay in responding, yes sand is the main backfill material although the insulation filled a lot of the gap. Unsure on the lifespan of the paint. Of you follow the instructions and give it a few clear coats, I guess it'll last 5 years or so. As long as you keep your water balanced. I set the pipework into the block before I filled the blocks with steel and concrete. I did nothing to seal around the Hayward concrete feed through. Good luck!

Apologies for the delayed response... I expect yours is built now! If I was going to do a sloping bottom i'd probably build it deeper and flat, then fill it in, but i'm not a pro so not sure how to do it properly! Flat base is great for pool games and general fun though!

Hi, pump is a mega SP100. Used 0.75kw. but only sized that size as I now run a 19kw air source heat pump. A pump 1/3 the size would be fine!

@@RichDoesDIY hi. Question on your video. I did see anywhere where you pipes went for your pump. Where about did you put them. I'm considering in doing 1 in back garden in the next couple of yrs. Just waiting to get the money saved up? Is your pool heated or is the pump just to clean it? How much roughly did it cost you to build it.?

Hi David, I don't sorry, but a happy to answer any questions you have. It was pretty basic, simply run a few 50mm pvc pipes through the wall to the shed, and connect up to the pump and sand filter combination unit. and then run pipes back to the pool return jets.

Lola was a good one mate

Did you watch the video?

Haha cheers, it's a fair bit of work!

Thank you :-)

Why thanks Tony! Moved house and building a slightly bigger one this time!

hehe thanks! Back was fine! it was the arms that took a pounding! I am in the process of building a pool as i've moved house. I used a digger this time!

Hi Mark, Pool was 5m x 3m x 1.4m depth (give or take a few cm). I think I started digging in sept. And jumped in on June 1st the following year. So around 9 months. I could have done it a lot quicker if I'd got a digger to dig the complete hole. I am a busy man with children and work. And as long as you can keep the site safe then you can take your time. I had very little help and had a new born at the time! I also now have a 3 year old and a 1.5 year old! I never made a safety cover, but I built a fence all the way around with a lockable gate. I also had a webbed meshed cover that was strong but wasn't a safety cover. Pools are incredibly dangerous. I have since moved house and am about to build another pool (slightly larger: 6.5 x 3.5 x 1.4 depth. I am in the process of making the first (possibly of many) videos about it. I will be building this one from ICF. Do the subscribe notifications thing and hopefully you'll see when the first video is up. The first video of new pool may answer some more questions!

Hi K, I had specifications for the grade of steel reinforcement for the walls and thickness of the concrete base. It is worth noting that this pool is quite small and has been over engineered from a strength perspective. No plans as such. I have absolutely no experience in building whatsoever. I didn't fancy a liner, as didn't want the risk of the liner puncturing and floating. A few friends of friends have had this happen and was an absolute nightmare. Plus the cost of paint was around £150 Vs £2500 for a liner! I also didn't want a liner as I couldn't have square corners. Most cheap liners require a 6" corner radius which in my opinion is not very pleasing to the eye!

Thanks! Paint looks good. Showed no sign of issues when I moved house and left the pool behind!

Hi Andrew, fantastic, not sure what the formation is? Happy to help answer questions!

Nice one thank you, whats the L/W/D, how thick was the bottom footings? What type of breeze blocks did you use was they standard blocks?

@@AJs255 excavation was 6 x 4 x 1.8 (ish). Finished pool is just over 3m x 5m x 1.4m. Bottom reinforced slab was 6-8 inches. Used Hollow blocks filled with steel in each hole and filled with concrete for walls. Hope that helps!

Hi Eve, it took around 5 months. Not full time. Maybe a month or two full time. It's a salt pool so no cost for upkeep. Just the electricity to run the pump (and heater in the colder months). Summer around £3 per day for filtration. Heating is about £500 per year. Used from march - October

Hi. I agree, boating is fun! Contact Julian at Antel. He will be able to tell you the detail of what you need. Much better than I can remember! UK based Company who specialise in the materials for the walls and floor etc

I've been asked a few times for the material list. I'll tidy it up and attach a link to the video. I have considered polystyrene ICF blocks. Definitely a time saver but the cost is too prohibitive and I wouldn't be able to afford to build a pool using this method.

Hi, yes the Antel paint is a good membrane. But not as good as a tiled finish as I guess it needs to be re done periodically. Although it's worth noting that the Antel SBR mix in the second render coat provides a water proof membrane. Paint is more cosmetic. Definitely go for a light colour for a nice natural blue pool..avoid electric blue paint!

Yes it seems to have been fine. I did a clear coat as well which is what you do when using salt apparently. I've moved now and am about to start building another pool!

Sure, regular 20mm scalpings at the base, and sand around the pipes. I also used a load of the initial excavated rock. As long as the back fill is drainable and won't damage the plumbing you're good !

Hi Wideaway, thank you very much! Doing a Reno at the moment on a new place. That doesn't have a pool. I'll be building another one in the coming years!

Hi, No ground water issues No main drains - 2 low level suction points Vertical rebar only down each block. All steel 10mm All specified by a structural engineer. Family friend though so specs were gratis!

Hi. Pump from AES, pool parts from Bosta

Hi, for some reason I missed this comment!! One year on... Yes there wasn't much choice in windows movie maker at the time 😂. There was no need to install a hydrostatic relief valve as this pool was built on very high ground with exceptional drainage. I put a single. Light in the near end which lights it up nicely as it's quite small 😀.

No worries for the late reply, busy raising kids. I noticed after your render application, you didn't put a waterproof membrane ( not needed?) . Has the epoxy pool paint been okay? What kind of render mix did you use? About to start planning mine. Cheers

I didn't. Although I believe you still need to check with your local council. Pools are classed as garden projects in the UK

Hi, it's 5m x 3m x just under 1.4m. 😀

Wow good question. Took about 6 months with 2-3 evenings a week. I reckon I could have done it start to finish in a month if I was at it all day every day!

Hi, yes it is waterproof. It lasts about 8 years (apparently!) if you look after your pool water balance. I've not repainted it so unsure on repainting time. But the first three coats took a day on this small pool. I chose epoxy because it was the cheapest way to make the pool watertight. Contact Julian at Antel if you need more advice on the paint 😀.

Great question. I don't know to be exact. But I think I could do one of these in a Month, maybe just over if It was full time work. I did it in spare time whilst taking care of a new-born. Took 6 months!

Hi Simon, yes it's pretty good. Water has been 28c since the start of April! And just come out after a nice 2 hour swim after work! Right then. Planning permission not generally needed if you are not in a green belt type area and the pool is outdoors. However you'd need to check with your local council maybe. Steel bar was specified by a structural engineer for the volume, ground conditions etc. That was 12mm. No meter. But wouldn't matter as once it's filled with about 20m3 it's never emptied. Regarding the equipment. I bought all the bits separately mainly from Bosta. I went with metric 50mm pipe for everything. Most of the fittings are Hayward. Used for a year last year without a heater and temp did get to 30c but not for that long. Only during the heat wave. I have subsequently got a 19kw heat pump and larger sand filter set from AES. Which keeps it at 28-30c. I'd take all that with a punch of salt as I'm no expert!

@@RichDoesDIY Richard thank you so much. This may be the pool inspiration I've been looking for. If you can do it so can I. Did you use standard hollow 9" blocks or were they special to accommodate the Re bar ? 6 or 9" base slab? And finally as I'm sure you're fed up of answering questions lol the render mix. Any particular gauge and additive? Thanks again Richard. So very envious, not just the pool but view also, that helps :)

@Geardownthreegreens no problems! Nope happy to answer questions. I'd stress the importance of the structural engineer. I went for a 6" slab. Standard hollows. contact Julian at Antel for all rendering and pool paint stuff. They're the best!

@@RichDoesDIY much appreciated Richard, really is. You've answered my questions. 1 day....maybe.... fingers crossed. I'm going to start pricing everything up. Thanks again, You've been very helpful 👍

I’ve wanted a pool for so long. Crazy prices. I want to build my own.

Awesome....send some pics. Keen to see other's projects! So I'd speak to tech support at Antel. They gave me all the info, right from bare block to fully finished. Not sure what tank it is? I just rendered it and painted with Epoxy paint!

@@RichDoesDIY how did you render it ie what did you use ? Plastering Sand? and what ratios? Thanks Rich are u on insta? Can ping u some pics of progress

@@triniapache Hi, I used all the rendering products from Antel, think it was just normal builders sand. Julian at Antel gives you all the detailed information regarding ratios and rendering. From memory. The two coats were a 1:3, and 1:5. And one had the Antel product and one didn't. Both used standard blue circle cement. Make sure you scratch the first coat (incl floor) very well.

@@RichDoesDIY Thanks Bro I spoke to Julian and said u recommended me, 😉 I got the sbr and all that I needed Thanks for all your help bro will upload video when completed 👊🏼👍🏼

@@triniapache Nice - One final thought - In my opinion I'd go with a shade of grey for the inside colour. Avoid Electric Blue! You'll get a much nicer natural blue colour with grey!

Hi, I 've been working on the parts and materials list. I'll get it linked in the description as soon as possible!

Hi, fortunately in the UK (at time of building) we don't require planning permission. But we are required to build within certain parameters. Which vary between our local authorities.

Hi, I started using it March. I only acquired a new air source heat pump in Feb this year. And heated pool to 30c. I only have a solar cover and a debris cover. Neither of which do much to keep heat in in winter. I will be moving house soon and I'll be building another pool with a retractable hard cover ! Regarding the condition of the pool, it still looks and works brilliantly, and it's had daily use since it was built. Some of the paint has come off the base because I didn't wait for the instructed period of time before filling it!

Thanks Richard! We have dug the hole now so all systems go! How deep did you do your concrete base?

@@camillac9526 hi... Remember that the thickness of the concrete base is dependent on the walls,pool volume, and ground conditions. Mine was about 8" thick. Reinforced with 10mm steel I think!

Shame I can’t send you pic, concrete is in

@@camillac9526 Can you do a short video and send the link?

The water temp is 28-30c from march to October :-).

@@RichDoesDIY :) England of Caraïbes

It's been pretty good. The epoxy paint is the waterproof membrane. It's a 2 part mix. It's designed to waterproof a pool. Tile would be best. But the paint is a fraction of the price! I believe it's better than that rubber based chlorine paint.

@@RichDoesDIY what was the name of the paint you used? Cheers 👍

@@jonathanlinehan9316 good question. I can't remember the exact name. It was Antels epoxy swimming pool paint system. Search that and it should come up

@@RichDoesDIY Legend that's for the reply

Hi, Cardiff, South Wales 😀

Hi, thank you, yes, watch the video to the end 😊

Hi, unfortunately I dont have a drawing. Maybe I can give you some information? For filtering I use a remora fsf-500 sand filter set, and an Intex salt system.

@@RichDoesDIY I'm probably most interested in filtration, how the pipes are connected, what to watch out for and what to avoid...salt system is better or why? what advantages does it have over chlorine? thank you again🙂

Salt become chloride anyway. Have a look for cooper ioniser

Hi Camilla, great stuff...! No I didn't, I guess that would help to bond first cost of render to the blocks. I drenched the block prior to the first coat of render though.

@@RichDoesDIY thanks Richard how is your pool and heat pump etc going? We have finally started building again rendering almost done! What chemicals did you go with?

So I've got a new job and have consequently moved house... Planning pool #2 now! Got to quickly renovate the house first !

@@camillac9526 chemicals wise. Just added salt and used a salt water chlorine generator to maintain the water sanitation

@@RichDoesDIY amazing! Will you go bigger or same?

It was made for pool games like pool volleyball. I can just about dive in! I may make my next one a bit deeper

Hi, yeah I used a fsf-500 filterset. Which is an integrated pump and filter from AES. Set on an 8 hour timer. All through 50mm pipes from Bosta UK.

Thanks. I didn't take any video about that. Ive since started making a new pool. New video is more detailed.

Just a smidgen bigger than 10x17

Must have watched it over 100 times!!!

Hi, yes there's two inlets and two outlets. However I will never drain it.

@@RichDoesDIY where are the drainages? At the bottom? It’s something Nicole’s video doesn’t touch on either so appreciate if you can explain how you went about it. Cheers

@@boatingisfunUKmy research determined that a pool of this size didn't need main drains. I have two low level suction points down a single wall. No issues with circulation. Mainly as I've got a rediculously high powered pump! Although I'd encourage you to do your own research.

Haha. Where abouts are you?! Would you consider doing it yourself, it's fairly easy if time is on your side :-)

Two years later now. Probably £20k. Although I hope not as I've moved house and I'm building another one!

Haha... Had you messaged a few months earlier id have jumped at the opportunity! May need more than a week though!

@@RichDoesDIY I know. Thanks a lot Covid! Could've had a pool in my front yard!! Hopefully traveling back to Thailand on new years day. Let's stay in touch, sir

Like the idea of having a pool

Lola was very nice

😁🤣

Lol would like a trip over to the states! Wouldn't even like to put a number on the labour! I'm about to build another one!

,😂😂😂

Hi, Yes, Julian at Antel is the chap who supplied the Render SBR and and light grey 2 part epoxy pool paint. I'll be doing my new pool in the same paint.